Delta and Beltline highway closures precede exchange construction

Parts of the Delta and Beltline highways will shut down this week to allow for pre-construction drilling.

Posted: Dec 12, 2017 6:13 PM

Updated: Dec 12, 2017 6:25 PM

Posted By: Rachael Maurer

EUGENE, Ore.-- Ramp closures are in effect for Delta and Beltline highways. It's all part of a new construction project that will make the interchange between highways safer and less congested.

The current system was designed decades ago, when Eugene was a rural town.

Over the years, it has become more and more crowded, allowing for accidents and leaving people frustrated.

A spokesperson with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) said the main priority with the new design is safety. "Safety is our number one priority. That's why we talk about things like how can we improve the roadway... what do we need in the roadways to get from here to there safely? It is a key component of everyone's life," Angela Beers Seydel said.

Staff with ODOT said the new design will replace and enchance what’s already there.